The man often referred to as the White Pele, Zico is commonly considered one of the most skilled dribblers and finishers ever and possibly the world's best player of the early 80's. Zico was a true genius on the park and if you watch him it is apparent his vision, technique and passing ability was top notch as was his perfect Free Kick taking. It's unfortunate that he never won a world cup but like Platini I think it speaks volumes that he did not need a worldcup medal to show the world how good he was.

He had a phenomenal scoring record off 66 goals in 88 international games for Brazil, 508 goals for Flamengo and countless others for Udinese and in the twilight of his career playing for Kashima Antlers in Japan, with a record like this you would think that Zico was one of the ultimate strikers of all time, when as a matter as a fact you would be mistaken as Zico operated as an attacking midfielder and a goalscoring record like this really does show how great he actually was. And yes he does deserve those Free kick stats. The way he can get it up and over the wall from so close, and to get it to drop into the top corner was just outstanding

Do you think that his little SP? Yes, he had an incredible curling, but I think also that in most situations and goals that he gave, were powerful kicks, maybe not at the level in orange, but I think that the value of 86/87 would be quite good enough.

It should be made as it actually was, I'm sure he deserves tehnique 97, SP 86/87, for a look at some footage of his most cases all they were very powerful shots.

Look this first goal.

Maybe mods think that something we impose on this player, or that we want to make it unrealistic, but I think that the current statistics do not show the true value of this player no matter how they thought.

I looked at your suggestions and arguments, I think around 92/93 for the SA he deserves with respect to the goals achieved, but they do not look only to that aspect in giving value, I think the main reason is that he was primary position AM not a CF, that the case was that CF would surely have such values.

In fact agility could be even higher, same as Iniesta and Zola on 92. He was superb great at twisting and turning or using great ball control in tight spaces then dropping his shoulder to glide past players

The match against Uruguay below is probably the best example

Compared top speed with similar smaller players playing today like Nasri Silva or Zola and Baggio in the past. decent burst but wasn't one to go on long surging dribbles from his own half all that often

I think Maradona, Platini and Zico should be level on SPA They could all probably sit on 96 though.. Maradona was probably the most versatile passer on his day and probably he best in terms of chipped through passes, Platini was better in long passes overall while Zico was the best in terms of through balls as he put more pace on his passes. Tweaked LPS though as he didnt play enough deep passes to deserve 85.

In terms of Teamwork Maradona and Platini probably had better vision ( Maradona's teamwork limited because of the adverse affect it has on his dribbling) Platini maybe dictated play better in the final third but Zico was probably the best team-player in terms of linkup play and how many passes he would make overall + off the ball movement. So I might test a higher tw value. 88 maybe the limit to not make him too much of a passing drone.

Removed Classic No 10. He dribbles to much to have the card imo.

Heres a full collection of in game footage I could find on the tube. Extraordinary player.

" If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants." - Isaac Newton

On second thoughts maybe the previously suggested 90 might be better for agility especially if Iniesta was to be lowered. (seen in jurgens set), Im thinking that Zola is overrated due to his height as well. Shot power should be more in the 83/84 region based on what he regularly showed during matches rather than from compilation videos.. and teamwork should really be around the 91 mark after all that has been said recently.. his general linkup play, constant off the ball movement really was sublime even if he did like a dribbling burst here and there.

it kind of adheres to what Claudio Gentile said about him .'Maradona was more individualistic, and practically all of their play was channelled through him.' Claudio Gentile Explains. 'Zico, in contrast, was more of a team player. He brought his team-mates into play, so I'd consider him to be a more complete player. But Maradona was more decisive, because when he'd spring into attack, he could win a match all by himself. That was shown in the 1986 World Cup.

Platini could be another guy that falls into this 'all the play is challened through him' category but he didnt regularly combined this with amazing off the ball movement to make himself available for the pass in the centre off the pitch, but then he was more of a classic playmaker than Zico and he seemed reserve all his movement for getting into attacking areas hence higher attack. So I also think Zico could have lower aggression than Platini (around 82) and Platini's TW should go down to what it was (88?)

" If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants." - Isaac Newton

Zico had an even better goal record than Platini I think . joint top scorer in Serie A as well with a smaller club like Udinese even with his injury problems.

To carry on what Ive read in the Socrates thread maybe SPS is too high if were basing it on the style of football back then. Majority of his passes in the middle of the pitch where Green, but when he tries to pick out some great through balls he does so with decent pace.. so im not sure.

" If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants." - Isaac Newton